Highlands Community Services Enlists Local Businesses to Light it up Blue for Autism Awareness 2013

ABINGDON, VA (April 1, 2013) – Highlands Community Services is once again joining with others around the world to celebrate the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2013 by Lighting it up Blue. In honor of this historic day, many iconic landmarks, hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and retail stores are among the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities that take part by changing their lights from white to blue.

This is also the kick off of Autism Awareness Month which is celebrated throughout the month of April. This year, HCS has asked local businesses to participate along with them. Heartwood, The Courtyard Marriot of Bristol, The Wild Flour Bakery and many others have agreed to participate. Communications Manager Danielle Lamson states, “Posters have been spread around Washington County and Bristol, explaining the Light it up Blue event and how the community can get involved. Blue bulbs are available at Home Depot for purchase. It’s a great cause. We will post pictures on our website and hope to grow
community involvement each year.”

Autism specialist and licensed professional counselor with HCS, Sydney Peltier states, “Light it up Blue is an important event. It’s also a fun one! Our hope is that more and more people and businesses get on board and turn their lights blue to spread the word. The CDC estimates 1 in 88 children (11.3 per 1,000) has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder. It’s important that we raise awareness, quickly.”

Highlands Community Services is a multi-faceted Community Service Board providing Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Intellectual Disability services to the residents of Bristol and Washington County, VA. To learn more about autism services or Light it up Blue, call 276.525.1550 or log onto www.highlandscsb.org.

Autism Speaks has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. To learn more about Autism Speaks, log onto www.autismspeaks.org and to learn more about Light it up Blue, log onto www.lightitupblue.org.